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Thursday, July 12, 2012

What Says Summer to You?

What is the essence of summer? Spending time on a lake, watching fireflies, mowing the grass . . . . All these say "summer" but, for me, food is one of the most notable marks of summer. Burgers on the grill, fresh sweet corn on the cob, luscious vine-ripened tomatoes, and fruit salad.

When I was a kid, my aunt and uncle often hosted family picnics. They lived at the old "home place" (although the old home had been sold and moved and they built a new house), and we ate outside under the big oak trees near where the barn used to be. I come from big families on both sides. This was my mother's family. There were eight children in her family, and many of them would come to the picnics. Looking back, there was something comforting about the predictability of those picnics. The hostess usually made chess pie, my childless aunt and uncle always brought a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, at least one person made potato salad, and there was almost always watermelon.

Watermelon is my ultimate summer food. I have loved it all my life. I remember eating it in the yard when I was about six years old with my friend and neighbor, Tracy, whom my dad called Betty because he said she looked like a girl he used to know. Tracy was a year younger than I was and kind of shy, so she never told my dad he couldn't call her Betty. I think she kind of liked it anyway.

We also had occasional picnics at home -- cook-outs. We had a spindly three-legged charcoal grill. No one we knew had a Weber in those days and, while the internet tells me the gas grill was invented in 1960, in the mid '60s, I'd never heard of such a thing. Nope, we had a shallow pan grill -- at least until my mother burned it up by building a wood fire in it one time so all the neighborhood kids could toast marshmallows. We ate on a fabulous redwood deck that had built-in benches all around as well as the ultimate 1960s wrought iron table and chairs.

These days, we still cook outside as much as possible during the summer, only now we use a gas grill for instant heat and easy clean-up. Our menu has expanded as well. We still grill burgers, hot dogs and steaks, but also chicken, bratwurst, pork loin, fish, and shish kabobs. And when I can find flank steak, I like to make this grilled flank with spicy corn relish. Boy, this would have knocked their socks off under the oak trees back in the day.

Full disclosure: When I took my plate outside to take the picture in sunlight, another sign of summer came along. I certainly remember these pesky guys from my childhood picnic days!

The flank steak recipe comes from Country Living. It is super easy, just a marinade of olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. You can find the recipe on their website. I changed their relish recipe slightly to make it less spicy and more colorful. The original is here. My version is below.

All of that does sound like great summer fun. It's been quite a while since I've been to a cook out. But whenever I did, I would always, always end up eating inside because of those pesky little things. Your cook outs sound so delish!

I love me some flank steak, but I could do without watermelon (I think I ate it too much as a kid). Love me some strawberries though. That picture of the fly is impressive. Gross, but impressive that you were able to photograph it. My son keeps reminding me that every time a fly lands on your food, that it throws up a little. EEEWWW!

That looks so good! I try to grill but I stink at it....I usually get some good grilled food at either my sisters house or our neighbors....the fruit salad looks good too....makes me hungry for grapes!

Such wonderful childhood memories of summer! I don't remember hearing about gas grills either. I do remember Dad barbecuing on the Hibachi. Now that I think about it. I wonder how he managed to cook dinner for 5 on such a tiny grill. Hmm.

Your summer dishes look so delicious! I would probably go for the fruit salad first. I blame it on my sweet tooth.

I agree that food is such a huge component of summer. I enjoyed learning about your family and your time with them during the summer. Your steak and relish look delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Some of my favorite memories are the family picnics we had as a child. I used to love going to my Aunt and Uncle's farm and running around with all my cousins. Watermelon was always the treat at the end of the day and we would see who could spit the seeds the farthest. Hugs,Laura

mmmm, that corn relish looks good. I will have to try it. I only eat beef about once a year...so I will use the relish on something else! Watermelon and summertime and picnics---all YES for a summertime memory. You commented on the poem in my blog--I think will ALSO have to associate summertime with poetry because for me they both represent a slowing down and savoring of life.

Ah, Those were the days. Funny, somehow we didn't think to miss air conditioning. Maybe cause we didn't have it. First house we had with central air was 1071. It was wonderful. We never spent that much time outdoors again. Sad.The recipe sounds so good, I think I will give a try.Hugs, Ginger:)

Thanks for visiting, I will have to do a post about the time I replaced the belt on the dryer drum. Another day.

About Me

I'm a Southern girl who moved to the Midwest and never left. I like to read, cook, knit, and garden. I compost. I live in a circa 1902 house, painted the color of sunshine. I like old movies, most kinds of music, and NPR. I have a terrific family and a goofy golden retriever named Alfie.